West Ham eye forward from Premier League rival and look to sell player just seven months after they signed him
Today at 01:04 PM
West Ham are actively trying to offload midfielder Luis Guilherme seven months after paying £25million for the Brazilian, talkSPORT understands.
They are also interested in Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz, while Brighton’s Evan Ferguson is Graham Potter’s first choice for the striker’s berth.
The Hammers are in talks with dealmakers in Saudi Arabia about the potential sale of Guilherme, who was signed from Brazilian club Palmeiras at the bequest of under-pressure sporting director Tim Steidten last summer.
West Ham are also open to offers for winger Maxwel Cornet, who has spent the first half of the season on loan at Southampton.
Guilherme is one of a number of Steidten signings who have failed to shine, much like Niklas Fullkrug, who could now be replaced by Fulham’s Muniz with the German now a long-term absentee with an Achilles injury.
The 23-year-old striker has just four goals this season, but has crafted a reputation as a big game player with three of those efforts coming against Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea.
Yet Potter is more keen on Ferguson, who debuted under him at Brighton and now looks like he may be available due to a lack of minutes under Fabian Hurzeler.
Guilherme, meanwhile, has made just six appearances for West Ham's first team since joining, all of which were as a substitute for 18 minutes or less at the end of matches.
The 18-year-old only debuted for Palmeiras in 2023, recording one goal and two assists across two seasons and 32 matches.
The 2023 Brazilian Serie A champions have become a hotbed for talent, with Real Madrid signing history maker Endrick, Chelsea getting Estevao Willian, and now Manchester City are looking to bring in Vitor Reis.
Yet it appears that West Ham don't have the patience for Guilherme, which isn't a good look for Steidten.
As talkSPORT previously reported, German sporting director Steidten is already under pressure for a poor summer window and the decision to hire Julen Lopetegui.
Lopetegui was an expensive dismissal at the start of January as West Ham replaced him with Graham Potter.
And Lopetegui wasn't the only summer signing unable to shine, with Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville and Fullkrug all making little impact so far.
Discussing a series of poor management decisions, Hammers legend Tony Cottee didn't hold back when speaking to talkSPORT.
“I think they should hang their heads in shame; Tim Steidten and David Sullivan and the board because it’s just a pathetic appointment," he said of the drama over Lopetegui’s departure.
“They should never have done it in the first place. It was just so the wrong appointment.
“You can blame Lopetegui. He’s been poor, he’s made bad decisions tactically, he’s been all over the place, they’ve spent lots of money.
“Defensively, God knows how many goals they’ve conceded, but Tim Steidten is the director of football.
“David Sullivan’s in charge of the football side of things. From the board’s point of view, they’ve got to take responsibility. They can’t keep making these stupid mistakes.
“If you’re gonna change the manager and get rid of what was one of the most successful managers in West Ham’s history in terms of winning the trophy, you’ve got to make the right appointment.”
